Jellyfish Lake's millions of jellies

CaptionJellyfish

Patrick Simillie

A lake filled with millions of jellyfish? This might usually be considered a beautiful yet terrifying sight. At Jellyfish Lake in Palau in the western Pacific, visitors can witness the beauty upclose without experiencing the terror. The jellyfish here are essentially harmless to humans. The lake, which locals call as Ongeiml Tketau, is on Mercherchar Island on the southern end of Palau.

A lake filled with millions of jellyfish? This might usually be considered a beautiful yet terrifying sight. At Jellyfish Lake in Palau in the western Pacific, visitors can witness the beauty upclose without experiencing the terror. The jellyfish here are essentially harmless to humans. The lake, which locals call as Ongeiml Tketau, is on Mercherchar Island on the southern end of Palau. (Patrick Simillie)

The jellyfish were isolated in the lake for thousands of years without formidable predators, so their stingers lost their potency over time. They still function, though largely effective against tiny prey. To humans, their stings produce an innocuous tingling sensation, allowing swimmers and snorkelers to navigate freely among them.

The jellyfish were isolated in the lake for thousands of years without formidable predators, so their stingers lost their potency over time. They still function, though largely effective against tiny prey. To humans, their stings produce an innocuous tingling sensation, allowing swimmers and snorkelers to navigate freely among them. (Patrick Simillie)